Zerona^® is a cold laser (meaning it doesn’t emit heat) to cause little openings in fat cells.  Scientists have proven that when tissues are exposed to this laser for several minutes, fat cell walls actually become leaky.  

Without dieting, Zerona^® can cause modest size reduction. When the laser is used 3 times a week for 2 weeks, without diet or exercise change; the average person can lose an inch off the waist, an inch of the hips and nearly an inch off each thigh (so an accumulative 3.5” total). ^1,2,3

This treatment can be more effective if you go into a negative calorie balance, (eating fewer calories and healthier food choices).  

Here is what we did at Allure:  One male and one female were placed on a diet consisting of low fats and no refined or simple sugars, while eating lean protein, vegetables and fiber filled foods which actually burn up to 30% of the energy they contain to digest.  They did not reduce portion size, count calories or change any exercise pattern. 

The man had his abdomen treated 6 times in two weeks.  His weight was down over 16 lbs., and he lost 5 inches around his upper abdomen and 4 inches around his lower abdomen. 

 The woman lost 8 lbs in two weeks. (women have a lower metabolism, and generally don’t have the same results) and lost 9 1/2” total between the waist, hips and thighs.

1:  Low-level laser assisted lipoplasty appearance of fat demonstrated on MRI on abdominal tissue. Am Journal of Cosmetic Surgery.  Vol 18, No3.   2001.  pp131-140

2:  Low-level laser assisted.. Am Journal of Cosmetic Surgery.  Vol 21, No 4. 2004.  pp191-199

3:  Low-level laser therapy as an Non Invasive approach for body contouring.  A randomized, controlled study.  Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.  41:799-809 (2009).

Excess armpit sweating (axillary hyperhidrosis) is a condition that can interfere with daily living and social interactions.  In the past, treatments have included invasive thoracic surgery or painful Botox injections.  There is a new treatment that uses a laser to heat the sweat glands found inside the skin.  This laser treatment can provide relief for many who suffer from this condition. 

A recent description of the laser armpit sweating treatment was published by Dr. Brett Kotlus in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, linked here. The treatment is done under local anesthesia and takes approximately 30 minutes. 

In this month's Plastic Surgery Practice Magazine, Dr. Kotlus defines the "tear trough", a groove under the eyes that appears as a dark circle.  He approaches the tear trough with a combination of therapies, laser resurfacing (seen above), injectable fillers, and possible eyelid lifting surgery. Because everyone has different anatomy, a customized treatment plan is needed in most cases. 

Fillers for the tear trough are most commonly composed of hyaluronic acid, a soft gel.  When used under the eyelid, the results can last longer than a year. There may be limited swelling or bruising after the procedure, but downtime is often minimal. 

Laser resurfacing can have downtime lasting for days, but the outstanding improvement in fine lines and skin texture are often worth the recovery investment. 

An FDA advisory panel recommends Restylane, an injectable filler, for approval for lip enhancement. In 2003, the FDA approved Restylane for nasolabial wrinkles, the lines that form along the sides of the nose. 

Jonah Shacknai, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Medicis, Restylane’s maker, said in a statement that the panel’s recommendation reflects its “confidence in the robust clinical data provided by Medicis.” FDA approval would make Restylane the first hyaluronic acid dermal filler in the U.S. indicated for use in the lips.

Currently, many physicians already use Restylane in the lips and other "off-label" areas, so the FDA approval would be unlikely to significantly change treatment habits among cosmetic providers.  Restylane tends to last between 3-6 months with a single treatment.  It consists of a gel called hyaluronic acid, which is natural broken down by the body in the same way as sugar. Overdone lips are often the result of too much filler; natural-appearing lips can result from a well performed treatment. 

A recent study published in Obesity by Hernandez et al suggests that fat returns after liposuction.  The subjects were instructed to not change their lifestyle in the year following liposuction.  It was found that their body fat percentage returned to baseline after a year.

The biggest flaw with the study is that patients who were seeking liposuction for body contouring were instructed to maintain their lifestyle.  If they collected undesirable fat before the procedure, they are likely adding fat gradually at their baseline. If they do nothing to change this via exercise or diet after the surgery, then yes, they will gain fat in other areas, but to a lesser degree in the treated area as those fat cells were removed.  Liposuction is not a lifestyle cure and it is not designed to reduce weight, and liposuction patients should be counseled on this.  

So if you gained fat around your waist over a period of 5 years and you have liposuction and change nothing else in your life will you regain some fat?  Yes.  If you adopt a more healthy diet and partake in moderate exercise 5 days per week will you regain some fat?  It's less likely.